Contents:
- Medical Video: The color of mucus and what it means
- Benefits of mucus
- The content in mucus
- The color of mucus determines the health condition
- 1. Clear mucus
- 2. White or cloudy mucus
- 3. Yellow or green mucus
- 3. Pink or red
Medical Video: The color of mucus and what it means
Mucus is often considered a disgusting thing because of its sticky color and texture. However, do you know if mucus is actually good for your body's health?
Benefits of mucus
Mucus, or commonly called snot and phlegm, is a sticky material that serves to protect the lungs, throat, mouth, nose and sinuses from dust, bacteria, vehicle fumes, cigarette smoke, viruses, and bacteria. Mucus is the first line of defense in the human body to prevent germs from entering the body.
The content in mucus
Mucus contains water and proteins such as mucin and antibodies. All of these compositions have their respective roles, including:
- Mucin is a protein produced by the cell surface tissue. The functions of the mucin molecules include connecting body cells, forming chemical barriers, and protecting them.
- Antibodies play a role in helping the immune system to attack pathogens (organisms that cause disease)
The color of mucus determines the health condition
Mucus released from the nose can be gray, white, yellow, green, pink, red, or rust. Here is an explanation of the color differences in mucus.
1. Clear mucus
The mucus that gets stuck from the nose is often gray because of the dust and dirt contained in it.
2. White or cloudy mucus
Solid white mucus indicates that there is inflamed and swollen tissue due to infection or allergies. This causes mucus to move more slowly, lose moisture, thicken and become cloudy.
3. Yellow or green mucus
Yellow or green mucus indicates an infection. When a flu occurs, the immune system will send white blood cells called neutrophils to the area where the infection occurs. When fighting infection, white blood cells secrete enzymes to fight infection. This enzyme contains iron which makes the mucus green.
If the mucus stays long, for example when you sleep, mucus can thicken and have a darker yellowish or greenish color. And if the color of mucus is accompanied by other symptoms such as smelly mucus, fever, or pain in certain parts, it can be a sign that certain infections occur in your body. You need to consult a doctor if you experience this.
3. Pink or red
Pink, red, or rusty mucus also shows blood. This can occur because of the entry of a foreign object that can damage the soft tissue in the nose. It is recommended that you consult a doctor if your mucus is constantly red.
